13.05.2014 OHR

High Representative briefs U.S. officials on Bosnia and Herzegovina

High Representative Valentin Inzko is in Washington today, 13 May, for talks with U.S. officials on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of the forthcoming meeting of the Peace Implementation Council on 21-22 May in Sarajevo.

The High Representative is meeting with Hoyt Yee, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

During his talks with US officials, the High Representative will stress that the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina has continued to deteriorate over the last six months. He will also point out the significant increase of unacceptable secessionist rhetoric which has been evident in the past period.

The High Representative will further discuss his serious concerns over the politicization of the issue of residence. He will welcome the fact that the current chair of the BiH Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic has brought the recent RS government decision on residency to the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. “Seeking a domestic remedy through the Constitutional Court is an important step in resolving this issue within the framework of the Dayton Peace Agreement”, the High Representative will say.

The High Representative will also thank the US for its continued strong engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Following his meetings in Washington, the High Representative will travel to New York, where he is due to present on Thursday his semi-annual report on peace implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN Security Council.